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Critters' Corner

Walking around the park on a beautiful summer mid-morning or afternoon
with your pet is one of the best experiences for pet-lovers. Most
people forget that pets need to exercise to stay healthy and fit.
Walking has been proven to be one of the most beneficial physical
exercises to pets, and so adequate exercise is one of your
responsibilities as a pet owner. However, ASPCA experts have warned that
high outdoor temperatures can compromise the health of the pet, whether
you are walking them or simply enjoying the outdoors.

Here are
some golden tips and advice from pet experts to help prevent your pet
from overheating as well as what to do if you suspect that it is
suffering from heat-related conditions:

Visit the Veterinarian More Often

This is one of the guaranteed ways of promoting your pet’s health. A visit to the veterinarian
for a check-up during spring or summer will help to keep a number of
health conditions at bay. While there, make sure that a heartworm test
is done. If the pet is periodically attacked by bugs such as fleas, ask
the doctor to recommend a safe flea control program. Fleas are notorious
for spreading diseases from one pet to another, and they always come
out when the weather heats up.

Invest in a Shade

If you
plan to spend several hours outdoors with your pet, it is recommended to
invest in a quality shade to shield the pet from the sun and
ultraviolet rays. Make sure that you do some background research about
the shade before placing your order, not only to get the best value for
your money, but to also get the best shade for your pet.

It is
also recommended to place clean water in the shade to keep the pet
hydrated as it rests. In addition, keep them indoors if the outdoor
temperatures get too high and avoid over-exercising them in the heat.

Familiarise Yourself with the Warning Signs

Knowing
the various warning signs of overheating, such as difficulty or
irregular breathing patterns, panting, drooling, mild weakness, stupor,
and increased respiratory and heart rates, can help you contain the
condition before it escalates. In severe cases, the pets can suffer from
bloody diarrhoea, seizures, vomiting, and a high body temperature of
over 104 degrees.

Pets that have flat faces such as Persian cats
and Pugs are at a high risk of suffering from heat stroke and other
related complications. This is because they have a reduced ability to
pant.

In addition, senior pets, the overweight, and those that
have lung and heart conditions should always be kept in cool and air
conditioned rooms during the warmest part of the day. This is because
their bodies are not well adapted to such harsh weather conditions.

Never Leave the Pet in a Parked Vehicle

When
going out in the car, you should never leave your pet inside alone when
it’s hot, even if you leave the windows open. This is because hot air
accumulates inside the vehicle, and the temperature raises quickly.

This
condition makes it impossible for the pet to breathe well, and he or
she could suffer from serious health problems such as heat stroke, and
die within minutes.

Make a Safe Splash

Some people believe
that dogs are great swimmers, but this is not always the case. To
reduce the risk of your dog drowning in a pool or other body of water,
it is wise to introduce it to water gradually. If you love fishing and
always bring your dog along, make sure that it wears a flotation device.
After a swimming training session, remember to rinse their skin to get
rid of salt, debris or chlorine remnants that are stuck in the fur. More
importantly, you should try as much as possible to prevent the dog from
drinking water from the pool or natural body of water.

The
chlorine and other chemicals used to treat the water can result in
stomach upset and other health complications. Natural bodies of water
can have dangerous bacteria in them.

Screen Test

According
to a study conducted by ASPCA, the number of injured animals due to
High-Rise Syndrome increases during the hot weather months. Because of
the heat, pets start looking for relief and are fond of jumping and
falling out of doors and windows, which can result in fatal injuries.

Simple
precautionary measures, such as ensuring that all your unscreened doors
and windows are closed and making sure that all adjustable screens are
tightly secured, can prevent such unfortunate incidents from occurring.

Trim its Hair

During
summer, it is totally fine to trim long hair on the dog’s body to
enhance its appearance. However, you should never shave the dog
completely. This is because layers of coats on the skin protect them
from sunburns and overheating. Also, brushing cats more often has been
proven to be effective in curbing health problems that result from
prolonged exposure to heat.

If you decide to use any insect
repellent or a sunscreen product, make sure that you check the label to
be sure that it is safe for use on animals. Some contain harmful
ingredients that can compromise the pet’s skin health.

Steer Clear of Hot Asphalt Surfaces

Asphalt
is one of the landscaping materials that are widely used to construct
roads or other pavement. During hot weather conditions, this material
gets very hot, so it is recommended to prevent your pets from lingering
on such surfaces.

Their soft sensitive paw pads can easily burn if
they come in contact with such hot surfaces, which is why it’s best to
limit the number of times that you take you cat or dog for a walk.
Choose the grass or dirt, instead.

Avoid Chemicals

Some of
the ingredients used to make common tick, flea, and rodenticides can
cause health complications to dogs and cats if ingested. Lawn and garden
insecticides also contain harmful chemicals that should never be
ingested by pets. When taking the pet outdoors, avoid areas that you
suspect have been sprayed with these chemicals to avert regrets down the
road.

Oil products, citronella candles, and insect coils should
also be kept under lock and key. If the pet accidentally ingests or
comes into contact with any of these chemicals, call your veterinarian immediately for advice.

Be Cautious When Attending Parties with the Pet

Summer
is one of the best times of the year to hold outdoor social parties,
such as weddings and birthday parties. If you plan to take your pet to
such events, it is important to note that some of foods and drinks can
have a negative impact on its health. For instance, alcoholic drinks can
cause depression, comas, and intoxication.

Change of diet can
also lead to severe digestive complications, so avoid snacks and foods
such as grapes, onions, chocolates, raisins and any other product served
in the party that contains xylitol sweetener.